Adam Reynolds facing bleak future at South Sydney Rabbitohs

Adrian Proszenko

Adam Reynolds' future at South Sydney is clouded after the club signed reigning Queensland Cup player of the year Cody Walker.

Reynolds is contracted until the end of 2015 but it is understood the Rabbitohs wouldn't stand in his way if he wanted an early release. The local junior burst onto the scene in 2012 as a replacement for Chris Sandow and has been a constant fixture in first grade ever since.

However, youngster Luke Keary was slated as a long-term halves option before suffering a season-ending injury. There will be more competition for spots next year when Melbourne recruit Walker joins Keary, Dylan Walker and John Sutton as contenders for the No.6 and No.7 jerseys.

The Bunnies tried to get Walker on a mid-season transfer but the Storm blocked the move, with the move not happening until the end of the season. Walker is considered a star in the making and would have already made his NRL debut if not for an ill-timed hamstring injury.

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The pivot was the leading point scorer in the Intrust Super Cup last year despite missing the opening nine games through injury.

While you can expect denials from Souths, there are doubts within the club about whether Reynolds is the man to lead them to a grand final after falling just short in recent years. It wouldn't surprise to see a club like Canberra target him if he became a free agent early.

DOGS RUN FREE

Canterbury have escaped sanction after an investigation into whether they again flouted the NRL's new concussion protocols.

The Bulldogs were under the microscope over two incidents from their clash with the Sydney Roosters. The first involved fullback Sam Perrett, who seemingly refused the direction of a trainer to come from the field for assessment.

The other featured captain Michael Ennis, who stayed down after appearing to suffer a knock to the head. The league accepted the club's explanations, which included Ennis' claims that he stayed down due to a neck injury. The Dogs were the first club to be stung under the new guidelines.

BALMAIN BAIL-OUT

As we revealed in April, a mystery white knight has emerged with a proposal to redevelop the old Balmain Leagues Club site in a move that could secure the future of the foundation club.

Rozelle Village director Ian Wright confirmed the move during the week but made it clear that any potential buyer would need to honour legal commitments made to the Balmain Leagues Club and any tenants to whom a legal obligation had been made.

"It has always been our preference, however, to work with the Balmain Leagues Club through their financial situation and return them to a new club at Rozelle," Wright said.

"We have submitted a confidential proposal to the club board, which we believe will allow them to continue to trade as a business.

"We are waiting for a response from the club."

The leagues club owes Rozelle Village about $8 million and allegedly defaulted on a series of loans, with the matter ending up in the Supreme Court. The auditors were about to be called in, but an injunction was granted in the hope the parties could come to an arrangement.

GLASS HALF EMPTY

Overzealous security staff almost spoiled a golden moment for the Blues. Having finally won a series for the first time in nine years, the players wanted to celebrate by heading back out onto ANZ Stadium long after the game had finished.

Yet when they did so with bottles of VB – the team's sponsor – in their hands, they were told there was a strict no-glass policy. Quick-thinking Blues staff averted a crisis when they procured canned beers, allowing the boys to toast their victory on the battlefield.

SILA NRL-BOUND

Former Canterbury forward John Sila has become Wests Tigers' second mid-season signing. The joint-venture club has already prised NSW NYC forward Matt Lodge from Melbourne, but are set to lose Marika Koroibete on a 2½ year deal to the Storm before the June 30 window shuts.

"This is a great opportunity for John to reestablish himself in the NRL," said Sila's manager, Mario Tartak.

BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

Loved this from Greg Bird. Speaking after the fiery win that clinched them the series, it was suggested that the southerners had "out-Queenslanded Queensland" in reference to the way they got the job done. Quick as a flash, the Gold Coast enforcer replied: "We out-New South Wales-ed Queensland."

CLASSY MAROONS

It's easy to be gracious when you're winning. And, when you win eight years in a row, you get plenty of practice. The real mark of a team's character is how it reacts after a heartbreaking loss. In this respect, Queensland are truly a champion side. The way Johnathan Thurston sought out sparring partner Josh Reynolds to clear the air after the game was pure class. So too the conduct of coach Mal Meninga and the rest of the players, who refused to make excuses after finally getting rolled.

23 comments so far

Why would Canberra get rid of someone like Dugan, Carney and Fergo then pick up Reynolds? They have McCrone and Cornish, with very little or no ink in sight. The Raiders are trying to build a team that's right for Canberra. Leave the showponies to places like Cronulla, Roosters, Newcastle or the GoldCoast where they belong...

Commenter

No Tatts to Reynolds in Canberra

Date and time

June 21, 2014, 9:31PM

Good luck with that building project, looks like you need some new architects though

Commenter

The King

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 12:47AM

Gotta agree there...

Commenter

No Tatts

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 9:17AM

Talk about finger on the pulse. Not! Is that you Joe Hockey, I haven't seen this much delusion since budget night.

Commenter

Seano

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 10:16AM

Give up? Those aforementioned players gave the club no choice but to sack them due to multiple infringements whilst on the drink

Commenter

CSKN

Location

Manly

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 12:42PM

The Raiders had no choice but to get rid of them; all those morons were either sacked or asked to leave due to bad behaviour OFF the field. Urinating on people at parties, partying, partying and more partying means the sack!

Commenter

Duncano

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 7:55PM

John sila is a winger not a forward

Commenter

Robbie

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 2:03AM

I would only describe Thurston as "pure class" if he dropped his on-field spoilt little brat routine.He actually has way too much talent as a footballer to need to resort to the nasty, spiteful, childish routines that he goes on with week after week.

Commenter

Phil J.

Location

Seaforth

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 6:09AM

"The way Johnathan Thurston sought out sparring partner Josh Reynolds to clear the air after the game was pure class." I am just so pleased that JT managed to act with pure class at some stage cos I was getting seriously worried about his absence of that pure class up until I read this article. You know, the face slap as he was hiding behind his own player, the penalty earning forearm to the throat of the tackled player, the constant spit flecked whining and whinging to the Ref regarding decisions that JT just knew we're not right.......!!!!Yep, JT just oozes class.

Commenter

DeeTee

Location

Cronulla

Date and time

June 22, 2014, 6:17AM

That wasn't class that was B.S. in hope the powers to be would say what a nice bloke like you did and leave it at that.